Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team names match day roster for Pacific Nations Cup contest against the USA

The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s upcoming Pacific Nations Cup match against the United States has been named by Head Coach Kingsley Jones.

Canada kicks off against the United States on Saturday August 31 at 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, California. As Canada’s second and final pool play match, the result will help determine who Canada will play in the play-offs in Tokyo on September 14.

Canada met Japan in their opening Pacific Nations Cup match on Sunday in Vancouver, losing 55-28, but coming away with an important bonus point thanks to four tries from Andrew Coe, captain Lucas Rumball, and the McMullin twins.

Takoda McMullin moves into the starting 15, his first start for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team. Coe, who plays in the MLR with California’s RFC LA (along with Conor Young), shifts from right wing to full-back, with Cooper Coats starting on the bench in the number 23 jersey.

This match will mark the first time Canada has played in California since 2018, and the first time the North American rivals have met since splitting the results of two Rugby World Cup qualification matches in 2021.

"We’ve spoken a lot about how we need and want to start our matches better,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “Saturday’s match against the United States is not just another opportunity for us to measure ourselves against a good team, but an important contest that will dictate our position heading into the play-offs in Japan. This type of high stakes match will be good preparation for next year, when we will face the United States in the Pacific Nations Cup in a match that will help determine direct Rugby World Cup qualification.”

The match will be streamed live on TSN+. An encore showing will be broadcast on TSN3 on Sunday September 1 at 9:00am PT / 12:00pm ET.

More information about the Pacific Nations Cup can be found here.

CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs UNITED STATES

1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) - Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
3. Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
4. Izzak Kelly (White Rock, BC) - Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Cottesloe Rugby Club
5. Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) - Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Vancouver Highlanders
6. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds
7. Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, USA) – New England Free Jacks 
8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Chicago Hounds
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
11. Nic Benn (Caves Beach, AUS) – Dallas Jackals 
12. Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders 
13. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
14. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) - University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
15. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) - RFC LA

FINISHERS

16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
17. Djustice Sears-Duru (Oakville, ON) - Oakville Crusaders / San Diego Legion
18. Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
19. James Stockwood (Bowmanville, ON) – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride
20. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride
21. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) - Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
22. Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride
23. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Tars